Belinda Hoy @buibieliciousJust got asked for a lift to Tenterfield by people from France's Amazing Race...3 hrs ago

From Wikipedia:

Tenterfield is a town in New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the New England region at the intersection of the New England and Bruxner Highways. Tenterfield is a three-hour drive from Brisbane, 2.5 hours from Byron Bay, two hours from Armidale, New South Wales and 10 hours from Sydney. It is 699 km (434 mi) N of Sydney and 275 km (171 mi) SW of Brisbane. The town sits in a valley astride the Great Dividing Range.

It appears that the main attractions in the area is Bald Rock National Park, which has unusual rock formations, and arches and cattle and sheep ranching.

A close encounter of the third kind from a couple that gave one of the teams a lift. From Facebook:

<Witness> 3 hours ago near Casino, New South WalesWhats happend down town at 24hr?Camera crews and police everywhere.

<Friend 1> amazing race 3 hours ago

<Witness> We hav them in our car. Lol 3 hours ago

< Friend 1> LOL REALLY? 3 hours ago

<Friend 2> What happened 3 hours ago

<Friend 3> Oh what happened what happened? 2 hours ago

<Friend 4> We saw that We blockied like 6 times so if its on tv you'll see me, aunty sandra and mum atleast once hahaha 2 hours ago

<Friend ‎5> Witness - we're tryin to ring you and Brody - we have people waiting for us! 2 hours ago

<Witness> It wont b on tv in casino its the french version but it was the most randomest arvo ive ever had lol 39 minutes ago · 1

More information follows a couple of hours later.

<Witness> WOW RANDOM!!!!!!! Ok so this is what happend.... Brody and i are now celebrities.... :-) We just drove 2 contestants off the AMAZING RACE - french version to tabulam where they will b campin for the night!!!! 28 minutes ago|

<Friend 6> The poor fuckers will wake up in the mornin and all their shit will be gone ! Good on ya22 minutes ago · 1

<Friend 7> At the mission? Fuckin sootys!21 minutes ago

<Witness> Hahahha oh well. Nothin i could do the time stoppd tickin so we had to pull over. We couldnt break the rules. They were excitd to b at tabulam.,. They wit b in a couple hrs time lol20 minutes ago

<Witness> Bahah na he didnt. We knew she wasnt home cause she was passed out at the pub hahahha lol17 minutes ago

<Friend 7> Did he get us any pumpkins while he's there?17 minutes ago

<Friend 7> Tabulam don't have a pub they got a riverbank16 minutes ago

<Witness> Bahaha.....13 minutes ago

<Friend 7> Haha bloody soot town Haha8 minutes ago

From Wikipedia:

Tabulam is a rural village in the far north east of New South Wales, Australia, 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the state capital, Sydney. Tabulam is located on the Bruxner Highway (Highway 44) between Tenterfield and Casino and on the Clarence River. Tabulam is a picturesque village and its position on the northern catchment of Australia's most voluminous river affords it geographical and environmental significance

White-water rafting, camping, fishing, bushwalking and other nature activities are all available at the town. A local company offers weekend or single day river adventures in one of the continents most unspoiled waterways, with expert guides and the opportunity to spot a platypus or wedge-tailed eagle.

BONTOC, Mountain Province. -- An episode of the 8th Peking Express, a spectacular elimination race, was filmed in this capital town at SitioChakalan of Bontoc Ili and Chakso rice terraces on Jan.21 and 22, 2012.

Organizers said the competition has a similar concept with the Amazing Race and Survivor Philippines.

It commenced with eight pairs of contestants in Seoul, South Korea. The second destination was the Philippines and finally Sydney, Australia.

The show was produced by a Belgian-based Kanakna Productions with Thiery Guillaume as producer and Stephane Rotenberg as program host.

Each contestant was given one euro or equivalent to about P60 per day as allowance.

Along the route, the contestants had to look for free rides to reach their designated destination.

At their stopovers, they had to find hosts who could provide them free meals and sleeping quarters.

From Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, pair Jean Pierre Bouveè and Francois Genevet, both French and defending champion of last year’s 7th season performed in Africa, was the first to arrive at 5:45p.m. on Jan. 21 at the provincial plaza here.

They were welcomed by the Bontockhiyag cultural dance troupe that performed indigenous dances.

The pair was escorted to the family house of a certain CamiloUt-tan as their host for the night at sitioChakalan.

Before they had supper of native dish of pinikpikan and rice, the contestants pounded, through the use of indigenous pestle and mortar, four bundles of palay for their breakfast the following day.

One of the organizers said that there was an advantage of the first couple to arrive in Bontoc because they had a ready host to entertain them.

According to Francois, they slept well as they were tired of hitching rides from Cervantes, Ilocus Sur to Bontoc.

They had to transfer rides because the two vehicles they rode in had engine problems.

At Mankayan, Benguet, they were able to hitch a Land Rover that brought them to Bontoc.

Jean Pierre, who has difficulty in communicating in English, said that Bontoc was one of the best rural communities he visited.

The place is imbued with natural and fresh cool air and hospitable and simple living people, he related.

The other two couples who were not able to reach Bontoc night of Jan. 21 arrived the following morning.

They were tasked to find the Lao-inganato and a traditional pigpen with a native pig at sitioChakalan to find the clue what to do next.

Afterwards, the pairs proceeded in front of the Bontoc museum to register and report to the program host that they arrived in this town.

A point is deducted if the last two couples will be able to see the first couple hence, Jean Pierre and Francois hid in the village.

A spectacular game was performed at Chaksoricefield. The three couples were requested to find the three knives packed in bamboos submerged in a wet paddy ready for planting palay.

They used the knives to cut the ropes that were connected to sacks of rice suspended in bamboo poles in the upper dry paddy. Each sack contains 40 kilos of rice packed in 40 smaller sacks.

As the pair found the knife they proceeded to the upper paddy, cut the rope, untied the sack and carried the smaller sacks through the use of two bamboo sticks as carriers.

They brought their cargo to the third terrace below through obstacles such as 1 wooden ladder, wet paddy and another wooden ladder until the third paddy where the winnowers and host was located.

The couple who filled the winnower with the most number of sacks was declared the winner.

After the game, they had another race to Baguio. They hitched vehicles and dropped by some communities along the Halsema highway that were designated by the program host.

The first stopover was in Nacagang, Sabangan. There was traffic in the vicinity of Nacagang bridge when all the vehicles plying to the south were flagged down by the contestants for free ride until Mount Data, Bauko which was the next stopover.

Rotenberg said that there will be succeeding filming of reality shows in the forthcoming months probably in the Philippines.

This will be participated by Dutch contestants and other nationalities. Moreover, he said that Kanakna is a multi-awarded producer of entertainment shows in Europe since 1996.

It started as a documentary production company in 1993 and became part of the Swedish Zodiak television in 2007.

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I really wish we could stay longer in the countries we visit, but I've been lucky to have visited most of them before, because I've done a tremendous amount of travel. - Phil Keoghan

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is fast becoming a shooting destination for international entertainment projects, the latest of which is “Peking Express,” considered as the Belgian counterpart of the hit US reality show “The Amazing Race.”

Shortly after cameras rolled in Manila for the Hollywood spy thriller “The Bourne Legacy,” and “American Idol” singer-songwriter David Archuleta started shooting for the TV5 mini-series “Nandito Ako,” a contingent of 61 crew members and talents has flown into the country to shoot five out of 12 episodes of “Peking Express,” reported Interaksyon.com.

Shooting for “Peking Express” is scheduled from Jan. 18 to Feb. 2.

The contestants—composed of eight French couples—will traverse various tourist sites in Luzon. According to Interaksyon, the itinerary “is expected to go through Manila-Bagac-Cervantes-Bontoc-Angeles-Pinatubo Volcano-Quezon-Candelaria-Talisay,” and back to the country’s capital.

The show, which began in 2004 and already in its seventh season, sends couples to hitchhike from one country to another, testing their skills and spirit as teams while learning about a culture different from their own. Competition in the current season began in Seoul, South Korea, and will culminate in Sydney, Australia.

As part of the challenge, each of the contestants are given merely one euro a day (about P56 pesos as of this writing), and must devise resourceful plans in order for them to reach their destinations and fulfill their tasks, with the production team following their quest.

One team will be eliminated per episode until two couples remain to battle it out in the finale.

“Peking Express” has also been adapted in other European territories such as Germany, Scandinavia, France, and Spain.

Interaskyon.com reports that "61 crew members and talents of the Belgian Zodiak Media Group have flown into town to film five out of 12 episodes of the travel adventure program Peking Express, which is reportedly similar in format to the popular American reality competition, The Amazing Race." Shooting started on Wednesday, January 18, and will last until February 2.

The report explained the mechanics of the travel adventure show: "Eight couples are sent on a trip: a hitchhike race from Seoul to Sydney, then travels through South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. The contestants will receive only 1 euro/day per person and with this meager budget, they must find free transport and accommodation to reach their destinations, with the camera teams filming their actions every step of the way. With every episode, one couple is eliminated. Only two couples will reach the final destination, Sydney, where an exciting finale will determine the winning couple of Peking Express."

According to the report, "the Philippine itinerary is expected to go through Manila-Bagac-Cervantes-Bontoc-Angeles-Pinatubo Volcano-Quezon-Candelaria-Talisay and back to Manila before proceeding to Australia."

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I really wish we could stay longer in the countries we visit, but I've been lucky to have visited most of them before, because I've done a tremendous amount of travel. - Phil Keoghan

I read wiki of Pekin Express that saying "during filming, Stéphane Rotenberg was the victim of a car accident in the Philippines but this has not affected the continuation of the adventure."

that's true?

Yes, there is a link to a story (in French) about the accident on Page 1 of this thread. After looking at the story, I find 2 more follow up stories as well. Apparently it was scary, but not a serious accident. I'll post them with a Google translation. Anyone that know French, feel free to correct the Google translation.

Currently filming the seventh season of Peking Express in the Philippines, Stéphane Rotenberg was a victim, as revealed in the blog jeanmarcmorandini.com, a car accident .

Indeed, the sympathetic and attractive program host adventure M6 found himself before the cameras, involved in a collision on the road while he was on board a sidecar. Beijing Express animator since 2006, Stéphane Rotenberg is also a guide to candidates. A mission that is apparently not safe. Stéphane Rotenberg suffer head trauma, bruised legs and face wounds. The shooting was of course immediately interrupted, the time to care for the presenter of the game, whose days are not in danger.

Nothing can stop it! Real beating, Stephane wanted to resume filming of the show this morning. Obviously, Stephen would be perfectly capable of winning a season of Peking Express! Filming has resumed normally, and the presenter will meet as scheduled journalists midweek press conference for the show.

Note that there will also soon be the Stéphane beautiful, alone, in command of the third season Top Chef .

We now know more about the accident to local sidecar with Stéphane Rotenberg , director of race Peking Express , suffered on the set of the show in the Philippines. The game's producer of M6 , Guillaume Thierry, interviewed by the TV Mag site, has said more about what really happened.

The producer says this: "At one point, the bike is packed and Stéphane has lost control. A car came the hit." Fortunately, more fear than harm to the host, suffered a head injury. It must be said that the incident seemed very impressive (the website of TV Mag reveals the picture of the sidecar . "When I saw Stephane happen, I was very scared. He was immediately supported by our medical and emergency services. A few stitches later, everything is back to normal, "the producer.

Thierry Guillaume also reaffirms that the facilitator, in command of 30 January Top Chef 3 , is well and that the accident had no consequences on the set: "This accident did not change our schedule. Stéphane goes well. He wears a cap just to hide her bandages. It even joked with the candidates. "

Real fighter and stuntman, Stéphane Rotenberg began filming the show on January 11 in difficult weather conditions in South Korea. Filming continues in the Philippines.

Will we see the accident on the screen? It is not even sure he was well filmed, as revealed by Thierry Moreau (Tele 7 Jours) on his Twitter.

A few days ago, Stéphane Rotenberg was an accident of local sidecar on the set of the seventh season of Peking Express , adventure program to success M6 , the Philippines. More fear than harm. While he was recently told TV Mag , This time is for our colleagues from the site of Tele 7 Jours that the sympathetic Stephane returns to his accident and its consequences.

Five days after the incident, the moderator, who will return soon to head Top Chef , explains: "I was motoring journalist in the past and I had some crashes. There I took control of a sidecar for a sequence of shooting without the candidates. But we were on a road a little crowded and I was struck by a vehicle. A banal traffic accident without major consequences. I was supported and cared for by a doctor Beijing Express, and the race could leave a few hours later. I just wearing a hat to hide the small scars and I walk with a limp ... it embarrasses me more than anything else. What surprised me is how people react. I received lots of SMS and phone calls from people worried. But everyone can rest assured, these are just sores ... "

It is true that many people who expressed concern for the journalist. We the Original! Smiling and talented, Stéphane has a real goodwill. Still on the flanks of the volcano Pinatubo in the Philippines, Stephane displays a few scratches on the face and box of the right leg, but more is needed to stop it. Indeed, it has already resumed filming this season, which will be full of surprises - the facilitators of the M6 ​​will come and play "ball"! - By stifling heat of not less than 35 ° C.

Excluded! "I was very afraid for Rotenberg"Guillaume Thierry, the producer of Peking Express, said the accident Shooting Facilitator

"When I saw Stephane happen, I was very scared, recalls Thierry Guillaume, the producer of Peking Express . He was immediately supported by our physician and emergency department. A few stitches later, everything is back to normal. "The accident occurred Saturday during filming of an plateau. Stéphane Rotenberg , an avid motor sports, wanted to take control of a local sidecar , a preferred means of transportation in the Philippines.

"At one point, the bike is packed and Stéphane has lost control. A car came the hit. "Shot in the head, the globetrotter M6 was immediately supported for treatment. "This accident did not change our schedule, insists Thierry Guillaume. Stephane goes well. He wears a cap just to hide her bandages. He even joked with the candidates. "

Today is rest day. A well deserved rest. Adventure racing began Jan. 11 in South Korea "in quite difficult conditions due to cold and snow. "It is no longer the case in the Philippines where the temperature is 30 degrees.

This last article included a picture of the damaged sidecar, which didn't look to badly damaged to me.

I read wiki of Pekin Express that saying "during filming, Stéphane Rotenberg was the victim of a car accident in the Philippines but this has not affected the continuation of the adventure."

that's true?

Yes, there is a link to a story (in French) about the accident on Page 1 of this thread. After looking at the story, I find 2 more follow up stories as well. Apparently it was scary, but not a serious accident. I'll post them with a Google translation. Anyone that know French, feel free to correct the Google translation.

Currently filming the seventh season of Peking Express in the Philippines, Stéphane Rotenberg was a victim, as revealed in the blog jeanmarcmorandini.com, a car accident .

Indeed, the sympathetic and attractive program host adventure M6 found himself before the cameras, involved in a collision on the road while he was on board a sidecar. Beijing Express animator since 2006, Stéphane Rotenberg is also a guide to candidates. A mission that is apparently not safe. Stéphane Rotenberg suffer head trauma, bruised legs and face wounds. The shooting was of course immediately interrupted, the time to care for the presenter of the game, whose days are not in danger.

Nothing can stop it! Real beating, Stephane wanted to resume filming of the show this morning. Obviously, Stephen would be perfectly capable of winning a season of Peking Express! Filming has resumed normally, and the presenter will meet as scheduled journalists midweek press conference for the show.

Note that there will also soon be the Stéphane beautiful, alone, in command of the third season Top Chef .

We now know more about the accident to local sidecar with Stéphane Rotenberg , director of race Peking Express , suffered on the set of the show in the Philippines. The game's producer of M6 , Guillaume Thierry, interviewed by the TV Mag site, has said more about what really happened.

The producer says this: "At one point, the bike is packed and Stéphane has lost control. A car came the hit." Fortunately, more fear than harm to the host, suffered a head injury. It must be said that the incident seemed very impressive (the website of TV Mag reveals the picture of the sidecar . "When I saw Stephane happen, I was very scared. He was immediately supported by our medical and emergency services. A few stitches later, everything is back to normal, "the producer.

Thierry Guillaume also reaffirms that the facilitator, in command of 30 January Top Chef 3 , is well and that the accident had no consequences on the set: "This accident did not change our schedule. Stéphane goes well. He wears a cap just to hide her bandages. It even joked with the candidates. "

Real fighter and stuntman, Stéphane Rotenberg began filming the show on January 11 in difficult weather conditions in South Korea. Filming continues in the Philippines.

Will we see the accident on the screen? It is not even sure he was well filmed, as revealed by Thierry Moreau (Tele 7 Jours) on his Twitter.

A few days ago, Stéphane Rotenberg was an accident of local sidecar on the set of the seventh season of Peking Express , adventure program to success M6 , the Philippines. More fear than harm. While he was recently told TV Mag , This time is for our colleagues from the site of Tele 7 Jours that the sympathetic Stephane returns to his accident and its consequences.

Five days after the incident, the moderator, who will return soon to head Top Chef , explains: "I was motoring journalist in the past and I had some crashes. There I took control of a sidecar for a sequence of shooting without the candidates. But we were on a road a little crowded and I was struck by a vehicle. A banal traffic accident without major consequences. I was supported and cared for by a doctor Beijing Express, and the race could leave a few hours later. I just wearing a hat to hide the small scars and I walk with a limp ... it embarrasses me more than anything else. What surprised me is how people react. I received lots of SMS and phone calls from people worried. But everyone can rest assured, these are just sores ... "

It is true that many people who expressed concern for the journalist. We the Original! Smiling and talented, Stéphane has a real goodwill. Still on the flanks of the volcano Pinatubo in the Philippines, Stephane displays a few scratches on the face and box of the right leg, but more is needed to stop it. Indeed, it has already resumed filming this season, which will be full of surprises - the facilitators of the M6 ​​will come and play "ball"! - By stifling heat of not less than 35 ° C.

Excluded! "I was very afraid for Rotenberg"Guillaume Thierry, the producer of Peking Express, said the accident Shooting Facilitator

"When I saw Stephane happen, I was very scared, recalls Thierry Guillaume, the producer of Peking Express . He was immediately supported by our physician and emergency department. A few stitches later, everything is back to normal. "The accident occurred Saturday during filming of an plateau. Stéphane Rotenberg , an avid motor sports, wanted to take control of a local sidecar , a preferred means of transportation in the Philippines.

"At one point, the bike is packed and Stéphane has lost control. A car came the hit. "Shot in the head, the globetrotter M6 was immediately supported for treatment. "This accident did not change our schedule, insists Thierry Guillaume. Stephane goes well. He wears a cap just to hide her bandages. He even joked with the candidates. "

Today is rest day. A well deserved rest. Adventure racing began Jan. 11 in South Korea "in quite difficult conditions due to cold and snow. "It is no longer the case in the Philippines where the temperature is 30 degrees.

This last article included a picture of the damaged sidecar, which didn't look to badly damaged to me.

It's very interesting that I don't know Stephen is doing okay at least.

Logged

I really wish we could stay longer in the countries we visit, but I've been lucky to have visited most of them before, because I've done a tremendous amount of travel. - Phil Keoghan

I found a couple of messages on Facebook and that have me more than a little confused.

The guy apparently worked with Pekin Express in the Philippines and says he's starting work in a day or two for about another 2 weeks with Amazing Race Deutsch (his name for it and not what he called Pekin Express).

Another version of TAR filming in the Philippines for 2 weeks starting tomorrow? Whaaaattt?

I might dismiss this but his information about Pekin Express is very convincing. I really don't know what this other race could be. Maybe additional non racer filming for Pekin Express?

13 more teams? Maybe there is another race starting up but it seems unlikely. I suspect it's just the remaining 3 Pekin Express teams.

Gunnedah is 475 kilometres (295 mi) from Sydney. The tourism centre states that "Gunnedah is proudly home to one of the largest and healthiest koala colonies in the world. Gunnedah Koala Capital of the World!"

Lightning Ridge is to the west of Gunnedah and not any closer to Sydney. From Wikipedia: The Lightning Ridge area is a world epicentre of the mining of black opals and other opal gemstones. Lightning Ridge has the largest known deposits of black opals in the world.

The reason for the slow progress becomes clear when you read the other tweets from Gunnedah Tourism.

And it goes on and on. Lots of information about roads being closed and reopening. Apparently Pekin Express wandered into a disaster area with heavy flooding. With the closed roads, it's no wonder they haven't made much progress or been seen much the last few days. I begin to understand why the people the other day were saying they wouldn't be happy camping by the river. It does appear the heavy rains happened a day or two before they got there, roughly from Jan 30th through Feb 2nd or 3rd. Here's a few pictures of the flooding.

"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."--Phil Keoghan

SES puts French Amazing Race contestants in their place : The Daily Telegraph

February 08, 2012 12:00AM French pair caused "chaos" demanding directions Visitors had no idea about the flood emergency SES controller was critical of the show's producers

CONTESTANTS in a French version of The Amazing Race have run into trouble with SES officials who were forced to redirect the series as it tracked straight into flood-ravaged parts of New South Wales. Gunnedah tourism officials were the first to raise concerns about up to 14 teams on Pekin Express, racing towards an overnight pit stop at Lightning Ridge, unaware of road closures and flash flooding dangers along the way.

A French pair, with camera crew in tow, burst into the Gunnedah Tourist Information Centre early yesterday, demanding urgent directions and creating "chaos" for the surprised staff.

Belinda Hockings, Gunnedah Shire's tourism and marketing manager, said the frantic visitors had no idea about the state's flood emergency and "would not take no for an answer when told about the risks".

Locals also complained to police and council after being flagged down and begged for lifts by the competitors, who are allowed to travel between stages of the 10,000km race only by hitch-hiking.

SES controller Kathleen Cain was critical of the show's producers, who failed to alert local authorities or warn contestants about the emergency flood conditions.

"For the team I saw, I was sending them away from the waters," Ms Cain told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

"But for the rest, I have fears the direct route is through the greatest flooded areas of my region.

"We have a lot of closures and water currents running over the roads. If you got into an undercurrent, it could sweep you away."

Another team, Belgian brothers Ludovic and Samuel Daxhelet, were in luck, being helped along by tourism officials from Coonabarabran, Baradine and Coonamble who drove them around the flooding to Lightning Ridge.

But the dramas may not end there. With Lightning Ridge and nearby Walgett bracing for floods to peak at the weekend, mayor Gustavus Murray said if the teams made it they were likely to be trapped.

"They might have to be in Walgett or Lightning Ridge for some time," Mr Murray said.

The race, with favourites from six series, began in South Korea last month, has moved through the Philippines and is expected to finish in Australia

Great info, thx!! So sad about the flooding, hope the locals and visitors are safe!

Confused by the up to 14 teams part...aren't many already eliminated??

Logged

"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."--Phil Keoghan